The taxi, which cost $80,000 has enough room for two people using wheelchairs, or one mobility scooter.

Co-operative chairman Darryl Curran said eligible people who used Live Better’s community transport could receive vouchers to use wheelchair accessible taxis.

He said the taxi wasn’t about being competitive with Live Better but expanding the service beyond the not-for-profit’s business hours.

“The people who use the service may want to go out for a drink to to see friends outside business hours,” Mr Curran said.

“We can see a real need for disabled transport in Orange.”

Mr Curran said he hoped the co-op would eventually run three wheelchair accessible taxis.

“To run two successfully, you need to get a third, they do 100,000 kilometres a year,” he said.

Six drivers have been accredited to operate the wheelchair accessible taxi.

Mr Curran is a candidate for September’s council election and is the third person on the McRae Bloomfield ticket.

“Orange needs a big overhaul in regards to disabled access, I think there’s a lot of issues regarding access for people in wheelchairs,” he said.

“It doesn’t just range from transport issues but whether people can get in and out of parks, in and out of shopping centres, there’s a lot that needs to be looked at.”

He announced the new taxi along with lead candidate Joanne McRae, but said it was a coincidence as the co-op started working towards arranging another wheelchair accessible taxi in August last year.

“It honestly does just coincide. We’ve been in the process of organising this wheelchair taxi since August last year, which is far before I even decided to run for council.”

Mr Curran said he wanted to see more drop-off zones around Orange for taxis to assist people.